Apparatus for producing illusory dramatic effects



(No'ModeL) J. W. KNELL.

By judicial change of name now NEILSON BURGESS. APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING ILLUSORY DRAMATIU EFFECTS.

No. 471,126. Paterited Mar. 22, 1892.

@ Nrrnn STATES JAMES \VM. KNELL, BY J UDIOIAL CHANGE OF NAME N OYV NEILSON BURGESS, OF HIGHLANDS, NEW JERSEY.

APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING ILLUSORY DRAMATIC EFFECTS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent NO. 471,126, dated March 22, 1892.

Application filed March 20, 1890. Serial No. 344,6 87. (No model.) A

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, NEILsON BURGESS, formerly JAMES WVM. KNELL, of Highlands, in the county of Monmouth and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Apparatus for Producing Illusory Dramatic Effects, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, whereby any one skilled in the art can make and use the same.

My invention relates to the class of apparatus adapted for use on the stage of a theater and by means of which certain illusory effects in connection with a race or contest of speed between moving objects is produced.

The object of my invention is to provide a device by means of which these effects may be produced by a somewhat simpler mechanism than has heretofore been employed by others or by me, as shown in certain United States Letters Patent already granted to me October 16, 1883, No. 286,709, on like subjectsmatter.

My within-described invention consists in the combination of the stage and setting, the endless path, and the various mechanisms for producing the effects sought, and in details of the several parts and their combination, as more particularly hereinafter described, and pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a diagram view in plan of a portion of a stage, illustrating the relative position and arrangement of the several parts of my improved apparatus. Fig. 2 is a detail View, in elevation, of the parts. Fig. 3 is a detail view, in central section, through the disks and their supports. Fig. i is a detail view, in cross-section, through the disk and a carriage, illustrating the method of support when the disks are to have a sliding movement as well as a rotary movement along the stage.

In the accompanying drawings, the letter a denotes the stage, that may be set for any convenient race scene, usually with a background b and the wing-pieces c.

In order to illustrate the embodiment of my invention, I have selected a foot-race in there should be an endless path on which the moving figure or figures are supported while the motions of the legs, as in running, are being made. Either the figure moves rapidly over the ground or floor as the result of the walking or running movement or the path must move backward beneath the feet of the moving object. In prior patents above'referred to I have shown and described an endless path or apron moving in a horizontal direction and passing from front to rear and below the stage in order to return; but in this case there are provided the disks or wheels f f, borne on a common central shaft gin such manner that the two disks can rotate independently of each other. The disks or wheels are of different diameters, the lower projecting the desired distance beyond the perimeter of the inner wheel. It is not essential that the wheel should be solid from center to circumference, as a path may be provided in a somewhat narrow belt near the outer edge of the disk, this annular belt being supported by spokes or braces radiating from the central hub. In the form of apparatus in which the disks are arranged to be fixed, except as to rotary movement, the shaft 9 passes through an opening in the stage and is mounted in a step g, that may be bolted to the under part of the stage or floor timbers, or it may be oth- 8o erwise conveniently supported. It is preferred that the opening through which the shaft passes should be provided with anti-friction supports it and that the bottom or end of the shaft should be stopped also in antifriction bearings, so as to reduce to a minimum all friction of the bearings caused by the rotary movement of the shaft to which the disk f is secured. The upper disk f is so mounted as to enable it to turn freely upon 0 the shaft, so that the two disks may have an independent rotary movement on a common center. Each of the runners d and e are held by a wire passing from a belt or like means of attachment to the body over a Windlass or 5 like device in a manner similar to that already described in prior United States patents above mentioned, and the relative position of the runners to each other may be govered by paying out or drawing in the supmo porting-cord 1', connected to the respective runners. In place of the running man animals or other objects may be employed, or the participants may be mounted on horses or bicycles or on other forms of carriages the running movements of which are controlled by the riders. In case it is desirable that the disks should have a movement across the stage at the same time that the runners placed upon the disks have a movement with relation to each other the shaft 9 is mounted in a carriage and projects through a slot in the stage, the carriage being below the stage. The disks that form the horizontal endless path are located above the stage and the carriage below 011 suitable supports that enable it to be moved back and forth at any desired rate of speed by means of a Windlass and cord similar to that already described.

In the within-described form of my invention the main distinction between it and the prior devices or apparatus is that the endless path is arranged wholly in a horizontal plane instead of moving vertically in a vertical plane, as does the path described in prior patents. At the same time the within-described construction possesses certain advantages that render it applicable to cases Where the other form of the device might prove too cumbersome or expensive.

I claim as my invention- 1. In combination with a stage, a plural number of endless paths horizontally arranged and mounted on a vertical shaft with an independent rotary motion on said shaft, the scenic background I), and mechanism whereby a moving figure is adjusted to and held in any desired position upon the endless path, all substantially as described.

2. In combination with a stage, horizontally-arranged endless paths, a scene forming a background for the figures placed on the paths, and mechanism, as a rope and Windlass, for adjusting and holding the moving figures in a desired position on the said path, substantially as described.

3. In combination with the stage having an opening therethrough, endless paths horizontally arranged and rotating about a center, a carriage supporting the said endless paths, the mechanism whereby moving figures are held in any desired position with relation to the endless paths, and the background scene, all substantially as described.

NEILSON BURGESS, Formerly J AMES \VM. KNELL.

\Vitnesses:

DAVID I. Townes, I. ROSENBERG. 

